Organizer Information
The World Press Photo Foundation is a global platform based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, that has been championing the best in photojournalism and documentary photography since 1955. As an independent, non-profit organization, its mission is to connect the world to the stories that matter through high-quality visual journalism. The annual World Press Photo Contest is its flagship initiative, recognized worldwide as the most prestigious competition for professional press photographers. By promoting freedom of expression and the importance of visual literacy, the foundation ensures that significant human stories reach a global audience through exhibitions, yearbooks, and digital archives.
Title & Description
2026 World Press Photo Contest The 2026 World Press Photo Contest invites professional photographers to submit their best work produced in the past year. The purpose of this Award/Prize is to recognize and celebrate the best visual journalism and documentary Photography. The contest follows a regional strategy, dividing the world into six regions (Africa, Asia, Europe, North and Central America, South America, and Southeast Asia and Oceania) to ensure a more diverse and balanced representation of global stories. Participants can submit work that captures news, environmental issues, social tensions, and daily life. The goal is to highlight the courage of photographers and the vital role they play in informing the public.
Categories
The contest is focused on Photography and Video/Film (specifically photo-based documentary storytelling) and is divided into four main format-based categories:
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Singles: Individual photographs.
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Stories: A series of 3 to 10 photographs.
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Long-Term Projects: Projects on a single theme containing 24 to 30 photographs.
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Open Format: A category for creative projects that use photography in combination with other media (e.g., Multimedia, Collage, or Digital manipulation used in a documentary context).
Eligibility
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Professional Only: The contest is strictly open to professional photographers. This must be proven through professional membership, a press card, or proof of publication in a recognized media outlet.
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International: Photographers from all over the world are eligible to enter.
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Ethics: Works must adhere to the World Press Photo Code of Ethics (no manipulation of "Singles" or "Stories" that alters the content).
Program Benefits & Awards
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Cash Prizes: Each of the 24 regional winners receives a Grant of €1,000. The four global winners (Photo of the Year, Story of the Year, Long-Term Project, and Open Format Award) receive an additional Award/Prize of €5,000.
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Exhibition: Winning works are featured in a global Exhibition that travels to over 80 cities in 30 countries.
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Publication: Inclusion in the annual World Press Photo Yearbook, published in multiple languages.
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Travel Costs: Global winners are invited to the Award/Prize ceremony in Amsterdam, with Travel Costs and Accommodation covered by the foundation.
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
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Digital Files: High-resolution images (JPEG format) with embedded metadata.
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Captions: Accurate and detailed captions for every image, written in English.
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Professional Proof: A valid press card, letter from an editor, or tear sheets.
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Technical Info: Original camera files (RAW) must be available upon request for verification.
How to Apply?
Online ApplicationKey Dates
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Application Deadline: 17 January 2026
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Regional Winners Announcement: March 2026.
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Global Winners Announcement: April 2026.
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Exhibition Opening: May 2026 in Amsterdam.
Location
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Additional Details
The foundation places heavy emphasis on authenticity. Any post-processing that adds, moves, or removes people or objects from the frame will lead to immediate disqualification in the news and documentary categories. Participants must ensure they have the rights to the material submitted.